Moments of Truth: Unleashing God's Word One Day at a Time

By John F. MacArthur

We are in desperate need of moments of truth. Truth that can shine through the clutter of modern life. Truth that we can welcome without hesitation. Truth that is good for our souls.

The Bible is the only source for such truth, and pastor John MacArthur is absolutely committed to sharing and illuminating God’s truth for us. From creation to parenting, leadership to the end times, Moments of Truth addresses practical and foundational subjects in bite-size pieces.

Day by day, MacArthur quotes Scripture and helps us apply it to our lives with eye-opening lessons and probing questions that are relevant to the season. Spend time each day with Moments of Truth, and see how God uses the truth to set you free.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jan 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781400203727

John F. MacArthur

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker. He has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren. John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly two thousand English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, and digital recordings by John MacArthur. John is chancellor of The Master's University and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Bestselling titles include The Gospel  According to Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, Slave, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.

Book preview

MOMENTS OF

TRUTH

MOMENTS OF

TRUTH

Unleashing God’s Word One Day at a Time

John MacArthur

9781400203710_INT_0003_001

© 2012 by John MacArthur

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Unleashing God’s Truth, One Verse at a Time® is a trademark of Grace to You. All rights reserved.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [e-mail].

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE. © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Broadman and Holman Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

MacArthur, John, 1939-

   Moments of truth : unleashing God’s word one day at a time / John MacArthur.

      p. cm.

   ISBN 978-1-4002-0371-0 (alk. paper)

   1. Bible--Meditations. 2. Devotional calendars. I. Title.

BS491.5.M3 2012

242’.2--dc23

2011026715

Printed in the United States of America

12 13 14 15 16 QG 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Introduction

JANUARY—BEGINNINGS

JANUARY 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH

JANUARY 2: THE DEFINITION OF TRUTH

JANUARY 3: THE TRUE BEGINNING

JANUARY 4: DON’T GIVE UP THE TRUE BEGINNING

JANUARY 5: REJECTING THE BEGINNING REJECTS THE TRUTH

JANUARY 6: SCRIPTURE, NOT SCIENCE, INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE

JANUARY 7: THE TRUTH ABOUT SCIENCE

JANUARY 8: THE INVENTION OF LIES

JANUARY 9: THE CLEAR TRUTH OF CREATIONISM

JANUARY 10: TRUTH IN NATURE

JANUARY 11: THE TESTIMONY OF CREATURES

JANUARY 12: THE TRIUNE GOD WAS IN THE BEGINNING

JANUARY 13: THE GREATNESS OF GOD AND HIS CONCERN FOR HUMANS

JANUARY 14: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN RACE

JANUARY 15: THE IMAGE OF GOD

JANUARY 16: OUR BODIES EVEN POINT TO GOD

JANUARY 17: TASKS FOR HUMANS

JANUARY 18: THE CREATION OF THE FIRST WOMAN

JANUARY 19: ADAM’S SIN AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE

JANUARY 20: THE REASON FOR A WEEK

JANUARY 21: OUR TRUE PROBLEM

JANUARY 22: THE CURSE OF SIN

JANUARY 23: THE BEGINNING OF A PROMISE

JANUARY 24: MORALISM IS NOT THE TRUE GOSPEL

JANUARY 25: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

JANUARY 26: FAITH HAS SUBSTANCE

JANUARY 27: WHAT MAKES CHRISTIANITY DIFFERENT

JANUARY 28: AN UNPOPULAR TRUTH

JANUARY 29: THE GOOD NEWS BEGINS WITH BAD NEWS

JANUARY 30: THE TWO ESSENTIAL TRUTHS

JANUARY 31: WHERE REPENTANCE BEGINS

FEBRUARY—LOVE

FEBRUARY 1: THE TRUTH TO FIGHT FOR

FEBRUARY 2: IN CHRIST

FEBRUARY 3: PREACHING THE TRUTH

FEBRUARY 4: HOW WE COME TO FAITH

FEBRUARY 5: ENTER IN!

FEBRUARY 6: GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

FEBRUARY 7: TRUE LOVE

FEBRUARY 8: GOD IS LOVE

FEBRUARY 9: LOVE AND WRATH NOT AT ODDS

FEBRUARY 10: THE TRUTH OF LOVE NEEDS THE TRUTH OF WRATH

FEBRUARY 11: GOD’S LOVE FOR THE UNBELIEVING WORLD

FEBRUARY 12: THE SOURCE OF TRUE LOVE

FEBRUARY 13: LOVE AS A MARK OF A TRUE BELIEVER

FEBRUARY 14: THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH

FEBRUARY 15: GIVING IS LOVING

FEBRUARY 16: TRUTH AND LOVE

FEBRUARY 17: WHY WE FIGHT FOR THE TRUTH

FEBRUARY 18: NOT AFRAID TO SAY SOMEONE IS WRONG

FEBRUARY 19: WHY JESUS SPOKE HARSHLY

FEBRUARY 20: THE TRUTH ABOUT JUDGE NOT

FEBRUARY 21: THE TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

FEBRUARY 22: SIGNS OF THE LOVE OF MONEY

FEBRUARY 23: HOLY HATRED OF SIN

FEBRUARY 24: FIGHTING FOR THE TRUTH AND LOVE

FEBRUARY 25: YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD

FEBRUARY 26: WATCH OVER YOUR HEART

FEBRUARY 27: CONSIDERATION IS KEY

FEBRUARY 28: A TRUE PERSPECTIVE

FEBRUARY 29: COMMITMENT TO LOVE

MARCH—THE CROSS AND EASTER

MARCH 1: THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE

MARCH 2: A TRUTH TO BE REMEMBERED

MARCH 3: OUR TRUE SUBSTITUTE

MARCH 4: THE TRUE PASSOVER LAMB

MARCH 5: THE LAST SUPPER AND COMMUNION

MARCH 6: TRUE HUMILITY

MARCH 7: THE FAILURE OF THE DISCIPLES

MARCH 8: WHAT JUDAS’S LIFE TEACHES US

MARCH 9: THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN

MARCH 10: THE PRAYER OF JESUS

MARCH 11: NO OTHER WAY

MARCH 12: ACCORDING TO THE PLAN

MARCH 13: TWO THINGS BOTH TRUE

MARCH 14: WHO KILLED JESUS?

MARCH 15: THE TRUTH ABOUT CRUCIFIXION

MARCH 16: FORGIVE THEM!

MARCH 17: A PICTURE OF SALVATION

MARCH 18: MARY AND THE CROSS

MARCH 19: IT IS FINISHED!

MARCH 20: THE TRUE MEANING OF THE CROSS

MARCH 21: A DEATH LIKE NO OTHER

MARCH 22: THE KEY TO THE RESURRECTION

MARCH 23: PROOF OF JESUS’ DIVINITY

MARCH 24: THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS

MARCH 25: GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CROSS

MARCH 26: FALSE METHODS OF ATONEMENT

MARCH 27: PURCHASED BY CHRIST

MARCH 28: THE BLOOD OF JESUS

MARCH 29: HOPING IN TRUTH

MARCH 30: THE TRUE GOSPEL

MARCH 31: A TRUTH HARD TO FIND AND HARD TO SWALLOW

APRIL—GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN

APRIL 1: KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL

APRIL 2: THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW THE TRUTH

APRIL 3: DELIGHTING IN GOD’S LAW

APRIL 4: SURRENDER IS THE KEY

APRIL 5: THE ONLY THING OF TRUE VALUE

APRIL 6: THE DESIRE FOR TRUTH

APRIL 7: GROWING OUT OF IMMATURITY

APRIL 8: PURIFIED BY TRIALS

APRIL 9: PRODUCING TRUE FRUIT

APRIL 10: TRUE GROWTH IS GRADUAL

APRIL 11: SANCTIFICATION IS NEVER COMPLETE IN THIS LIFE

APRIL 12: NEITHER CONTENT NOR PERFECT

APRIL 13: RECKON THE TRUTH

APRIL 14: WHAT NOT TO REMEMBER

APRIL 15: PAYING TAXES IS A CHRISTIAN DUTY

APRIL 16: TRUE AND FALSE REPENTANCE

APRIL 17: POINTLESS PENANCE

APRIL 18: HOW THE GOSPEL GROWS

APRIL 19: THE HARD WORDS OF JESUS

APRIL 20: NO CARRY-ONS

APRIL 21: THE NEED FOR SELF-EXAMINATION

APRIL 22: CONFESSING WITH OUR LIVES

APRIL 23: DEAD TO SIN

APRIL 24: THE TRUE INTENT OF THE LAW

APRIL 25: DO THE WORD!

APRIL 26: AFFIRMING THE SAME TRUTH

APRIL 27: A WEAK CONSCIENCE

APRIL 28: EDUCATING YOUR CONSCIENCE

APRIL 29: JESUS ALONE, NOT JESUS + ANYTHING

APRIL 30: CHRIST BRINGS DIVISIONS

MAY—PARENTING

MAY 1: THE TRUE WAY TO BE A BLESSING

MAY 2: THE PROBLEM OF THE WORLDLY CHURCH

MAY 3: THE TRUE VIEW OF THE FAMILY

MAY 4: THE KEY TO PARENTING

MAY 5: NO BREAKS IN PARENTING

MAY 6: THE TRUE MEASURE OF SUCCESS IN PARENTING

MAY 7: GOOD MARRIAGES MAKE GOOD PARENTS

MAY 8: THE PARENT’S TOP PRIORITY

MAY 9: SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR CHILDREN

MAY 10: WHAT THE GOSPEL INCLUDES

MAY 11: TARGET THE CHILD’S HEART

MAY 12: THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN

MAY 13: TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN TO BE OBEDIENT

MAY 14: TRUE OBEDIENCE IN CHILDREN

MAY 15: DON’T PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN

MAY 16: DISCIPLINING WITHOUT PROVOKING

MAY 17: THE TRUTH ABOUT SPANKING

MAY 18: THE TRUTH ABOUT FRIENDSHIPS

MAY 19: TEACH YOUR KIDS TO GUARD THEIR MINDS

MAY 20: DISCERNING OUR HEARTS

MAY 21: THE IMPORTANCE OF LOYALTY

MAY 22: TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT MARRIAGE

MAY 23: CONSEQUENCES UPON OUR CHILDREN OF REJECTING THE TRUTH

MAY 24: REMEMBER OUR WEAKNESSES

MAY 25: A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE

MAY 26: ADOPTED BY GOD

MAY 27: FROM SLAVES TO SONS

MAY 28: ADOPTED FOREVER

MAY 29: ALL ARE PRODIGALS

MAY 30: JESUS’ EMPTYING HIMSELF FOR US

MAY 31: REPENTANCE—A NEED FOR ALL

JUNE—MARRIAGE

JUNE 1: FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

JUNE 2: MARRIAGE IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE GOSPEL

JUNE 3: BUILDING A STRONG MARRIAGE

JUNE 4: MARRIAGE IS A UNION

JUNE 5: AN UNGODLY EXAMPLE

JUNE 6: THE HUSBAND AS HEAD OF THE HOME

JUNE 7: DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, SAME STATUS

JUNE 8: MUTUAL SUBMISSION

JUNE 9: SUBMISSION OF THE WIFE

JUNE 10: CHRISTIANITY VALUES WOMEN

JUNE 11: CHRISTIANITY ELEVATES WOMEN

JUNE 12: TRUE BEAUTY

JUNE 13: THE WIFE’S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY

JUNE 14: THE IDEAL WOMAN

JUNE 15: THE LOVE OF A HUSBAND

JUNE 16: TRUE LEADERSHIP IN THE HOME

JUNE 17: A CARING HUSBAND

JUNE 18: A HUSBAND’S RESPONSIBILITY

JUNE 19: A HARD DECISION

JUNE 20: HE LEFT EVERYTHING!

JUNE 21: REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS REQUIRES TRUTH

JUNE 22: WITNESSES TO THE TRUTH

JUNE 23: TRUE DEPENDENCE

JUNE 24: NO BOASTING

JUNE 25: HOW TRUE CHANGE HAPPENS

JUNE 26: A CLEANSED CONSCIENCE

JUNE 27: TRUE CLEANSING

JUNE 28: PREJUDICE CAN BLIND AGAINST THE TRUTH

JUNE 29: CONTENDING FOR THE TRUE FAITH

JUNE 30: FIGHTING FOR THE TRUTH IS UNPOPULAR BUT ESSENTIAL

JULY—FREEDOM, AMERICA, LEADERSHIP, AND WAR

JULY 1: THE WAR WITH THE FLESH

JULY 2: HOW TO BE FREE

JULY 3: HOW TO FREE SINNERS

JULY 4: THE TRUE BLESSING OF AMERICA

JULY 5: THE WAY TO NATIONAL REVIVAL

JULY 6: HOW THE COVENANT APPLIES TO AMERICA

JULY 7: CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS

JULY 8: PEOPLE OF OBEDIENCE

JULY 9: PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS

JULY 10: A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR GOVERNMENT

JULY 11: WHEN TO DISOBEY

JULY 12: KEY TRUTHS ABOUT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

JULY 13: PROTECTION BY GOVERNMENT

JULY 14: LIVING AT PEACE WITH UNBELIEVERS

JULY 15: THE TRUE KINGDOM

JULY 16: THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

JULY 17: HOW JESUS SHOWS LORDSHIP

JULY 18: CHRIST IS PREEMINENT OVER ALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH

JULY 19: THE TRUTH ABOUT LEADERSHIP

JULY 20: LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH

JULY 21: TRUE CARE OF THE FLOCK

JULY 22: JESUS CHOSE SINNERS TO BE DISCIPLES

JULY 23: GROUP LEADERSHIP

JULY 24: TRUE SUCCESS

JULY 25: LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT CHARACTER

JULY 26: TRUE LEADERS LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS

JULY 27: LEADERS MUST DECLARE GOD’S WORD

JULY 28: THE TRUTH WAR

JULY 29: A HISTORY OF THE TRUTH WAR

JULY 30: THE TRUTH WAR IS CONTINUAL

JULY 31: THE REAL BATTLE

AUGUST—THE END-TIMES AND OTHER IMPORTANT DOCTRINES

AUGUST 1: TWO DANGERS TO AVOID

AUGUST 2: TRUTH WORTH DYING FOR

AUGUST 3: BELIEVE THE TRUTH!

AUGUST 4: A TRUE ISRAELITE

AUGUST 5: TRUTH IS ABSOLUTE AND FIXED

AUGUST 6: THE HEAVENLY TRUTH

AUGUST 7: TRUE FELLOWSHIP

AUGUST 8: WHAT ARE PEOPLE LIKE IN HEAVEN?

AUGUST 9: OUR GLORIFIED BODIES IN HEAVEN

AUGUST 10: FUTURE JUDGMENT

AUGUST 11: JUDGMENT DAY

AUGUST 12: CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

AUGUST 13: ALL CHRISTIANS WILL SIN, BUT ALL CHRISTIANS WILL OBEY

AUGUST 14: TRUE ASSURANCE

AUGUST 15: A LIVING HOPE

AUGUST 16: THE TWO ROADS

AUGUST 17: NEVER COMPROMISE THE ABSOLUTES

AUGUST 18: JUSTIFICATION

AUGUST 19: JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION ARE DIFFERENT

AUGUST 20: THE NATURE OF SANCTIFICATION

AUGUST 21: TRUE FAITH SEEKS GOD

AUGUST 22: WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

AUGUST 23: TRUE HAPPINESS

AUGUST 24: TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE

AUGUST 25: FINDING TRUTH IN PARABLES

AUGUST 26: STORIES HAVE A TRUE INTERPRETATION

AUGUST 27: STORIES AND TRUTH ARE NOT INCOMPATIBLE

AUGUST 28: JESUS’ STORIES REVEAL TRUTH

AUGUST 29: THE TRUTH IS CLEAR AND NOT CHANGING

AUGUST 30: CHRISTIANITY IS NOT IRRATIONAL

AUGUST 31: ORTHODOXY AND ORTHOPRAXY GO TOGETHER

SEPTEMBER—WORK

SEPTEMBER 1: WHY WE’RE STILL HERE

SEPTEMBER 2: GOD IS AT WORK

SEPTEMBER 3: THE WORK OF PRAYER

SEPTEMBER 4: PRAYING IN JESUS’ NAME

SEPTEMBER 5: THE FAILURE TO PRAY

SEPTEMBER 6: FAILURE AND FORGIVENESS

SEPTEMBER 7: TRUE CONFESSION

SEPTEMBER 8: CHILDREN TEACHING THE TRUTH

SEPTEMBER 9: THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK

SEPTEMBER 10: THE TRUE PATH TO PROSPERITY

SEPTEMBER 11: HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS

SEPTEMBER 12: OUR TRUE IDENTITY

SEPTEMBER 13: THE TRUTH ABOUT SLAVERY

SEPTEMBER 14: SLAVES OBEY COMPLETELY

SEPTEMBER 15: SLAVES ARE TOTALLY DEPENDENT

SEPTEMBER 16: SLAVES OF A WONDERFUL MASTER

SEPTEMBER 17: HOW GOD CHOOSES US

SEPTEMBER 18: CHRIST’S CALL TO SERVE ALL

SEPTEMBER 19: FAITH WORKS

SEPTEMBER 20: WHY WE OBEY

SEPTEMBER 21: GOD’S WORK IN US

SEPTEMBER 22: OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY

SEPTEMBER 23: NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

SEPTEMBER 24: IT’S WHAT YOU BELIEVE, NOT WHAT YOU DO

SEPTEMBER 25: HUMAN WISDOM DOES NOT LEAD TO GOD

SEPTEMBER 26: TRUE GREATNESS

SEPTEMBER 27: TRUE GLORY COMES WITH SUFFERING

SEPTEMBER 28: WHAT ARE OUR AFFECTIONS?

SEPTEMBER 29: WE NEED A SUBSTITUTE

SEPTEMBER 30: WHOM GOD USES

OCTOBER—SIN, EVIL, AND TEMPTATION

OCTOBER 1: TRUE KINGDOM BUILDING

OCTOBER 2: TRUTH IN PROPOSITIONS

OCTOBER 3: THE DEVIL’S ATTACK ON THE TRUTH

OCTOBER 4: RESIST THE DEVIL

OCTOBER 5: THE NATURE OF TEMPTATION

OCTOBER 6: TEMPTATION CAN BE OVERCOME

OCTOBER 7: ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION

OCTOBER 8: SIN STARTS IN THE MIND

OCTOBER 9: TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY IDOLATRY

OCTOBER 10: GOD’S WRATH AT WORK IN SOCIETY

OCTOBER 11: DEMON POSSESSION

OCTOBER 12: MARY MAGDALENE

OCTOBER 13: THE TRUTH ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS

OCTOBER 14: RELIGION IS AN ORDINARY TOOL OF SATAN

OCTOBER 15: SATAN’S POWER IN THE WORLD

OCTOBER 16: THE TRUTH ABOUT MORALITY

OCTOBER 17: TWO TYPES OF SINNERS

OCTOBER 18: WHAT IS TOTAL DEPRAVITY?

OCTOBER 19: THE TRUE EFFECTS OF SIN

OCTOBER 20: SIN’S MASTERY

OCTOBER 21: THE TRUE SOLUTION TO OUR GUILT

OCTOBER 22: HOW TO REACH A PAGAN SOCIETY

OCTOBER 23: OUR HOPE AND CHALLENGE IN A SINFUL WORLD

OCTOBER 24: GOD CONTROLS BUT DOES NOT CAUSE SIN

OCTOBER 25: TRUE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

OCTOBER 26: THE WEAPONS OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

OCTOBER 27: GOD’S PROTECTION

OCTOBER 28: THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN

OCTOBER 29: PHONY CHRISTIANS

OCTOBER 30: THE GREAT DELUSION

OCTOBER 31: SPOTTING DECEIVED PEOPLE

NOVEMBER—MONEY, GIVING, DISCIPLINE, AND SELF-CONTROL

NOVEMBER 1: HOW WE SHOULD SEE THE APOSTLES

NOVEMBER 2: A GROWING LIE

NOVEMBER 3: OK TO LIE?

NOVEMBER 4: THE BEST EFFORTS OF HUMANS ARE STILL BAD

NOVEMBER 5: THE NECESSITY OF PREACHING REPENTANCE

NOVEMBER 6: CONFRONTING SIN IN FELLOW CHRISTIANS

NOVEMBER 7: THE WORLD REJECTS RIGHTEOUS LIVES

NOVEMBER 8: THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

NOVEMBER 9: THE NEED FOR DISCIPLINE

NOVEMBER 10: LEARNING SELF-CONTROL

NOVEMBER 11: GET SERIOUS

NOVEMBER 12: TRUE LAMENTATION

NOVEMBER 13: ALL RICHES COME FROM GOD

NOVEMBER 14: TRUE VISION

NOVEMBER 15: THE TRUTH ABOUT MONEY

NOVEMBER 16: RICHES AND SALVATION

NOVEMBER 17: GOD OWNS EVERYTHING

NOVEMBER 18: THE TRUE PROVIDER

NOVEMBER 19: ROBBING GOD

NOVEMBER 20: JESUS’ TRUE ECONOMIC CONDITION

NOVEMBER 21: GIVING THANKS FOR THE WORLD

NOVEMBER 22: TRUE GIVING IS REGULAR GIVING

NOVEMBER 23: HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?

NOVEMBER 24: GIVING IN DIFFICULTIES

NOVEMBER 25: GIVING LEADS TO BLESSINGS

NOVEMBER 26: THE ANSWER TO SPIRITUAL HUNGER

NOVEMBER 27: WHAT FAITH DOES

NOVEMBER 28: GRAY AREAS

NOVEMBER 29: DISCERNING THE TRUTH

NOVEMBER 30: THE TRUTH OF A FAMILIAR STORY

DECEMBER—JESUS’ BIRTH AND LIFE

DECEMBER 1: WHAT IS GRACE?

DECEMBER 2: THE GIFT OF GRACE

DECEMBER 3: TWO TYPES OF GRACE

DECEMBER 4: TRUE AND FALSE GOSPELS

DECEMBER 5: THE DEADLIEST SIN

DECEMBER 6: ABANDONING THE TRUTH

DECEMBER 7: THE POWER AND MOTIVE OF FALSE RELIGION

DECEMBER 8: THE NEED FOR CAREFUL STUDY OF SCRIPTURE

DECEMBER 9: COMMITMENT TO UNCHANGING TRUTH

DECEMBER 10: REMAIN IN THE TRUTH

DECEMBER 11: THE REALITY OF STEALTH: FALSE TEACHERS

DECEMBER 12: FALSE TEACHERS NOT A THREAT TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

DECEMBER 13: DEALING WITH FALSE TEACHING

DECEMBER 14: JESUS’ CHILDHOOD

DECEMBER 15: THE REMARKABLE NATURE OF JESUS’ MIRACLES

DECEMBER 16: JESUS’ HARD TEACHING OF THE TRUTH

DECEMBER 17: BIBLICAL TRUTH DOESN’T SUIT OUR WORLD

DECEMBER 18: THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

DECEMBER 19: OUR SAVIOR WAS TRULY HUMAN

DECEMBER 20: JESUS IS NOT JUST A GREAT MAN

DECEMBER 21: JESUS’ CHECKERED GENEALOGY

DECEMBER 22: THE TRUTH ABOUT MARY

DECEMBER 23: THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO MARY

DECEMBER 24: WHAT JESUS FULFILLS

DECEMBER 25: THE UNEXPECTED SAVIOR

DECEMBER 26: SIMEON’S TRUE PROPHECY

DECEMBER 27: THE TRUTH IS CLEAR

DECEMBER 28: THE GOSPEL, NOT GIMMICKS

DECEMBER 29: SCRIPTURE, NOT OUR SENSIBILITIES, DETERMINES TRUTH

DECEMBER 30: HEED THE WARNING

DECEMBER 31: WHAT, AFTER ALL, IS TRUTH?

About the Author

Introduction

Truth seems to be elusive these days. Some don’t want to acknowledge what they know to be true about God, life, the world, and themselves; some are afraid of the facts; some refuse to face the truth. And the prevailing mood seems to be that truth is either elusive or relative. This isn’t a new problem, of course. Pilate stood before the One who claimed to be the Truth (John 14:6) and asked, "What is truth? (John 18:38) and then washed his hands and turned away from the Truth.

But truth matters, with absolute truth mattering absolutely—and we ignore it to our peril.

John MacArthur has been and continues to be a champion for truth—God’s absolute truth as revealed in His Word. And during the course of his life and ministry, John has written a virtual library of resources for finding and applying God’s truth.

This book features excerpts from many of those books, giving you a daily moment of truth. As you read, may you gain a deeper appreciation for and understanding of God’s truth, every day.

JANUARY

BEGINNINGS

JANUARY 1

The Importance of Truth

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

JOHN 8:32

Every true Christian should know and love the truth. Scripture says one of the key characteristics of those who perish (people who are damned by their unbelief) is that they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thess. 2:10). The clear implication is that a genuine love for the truth is built into saving faith. It is therefore one of the distinguishing qualities of every true believer. In Jesus’ words, they have known the truth, and the truth has set them free (John 8:32).

In an age when the very idea of truth is being scorned and attacked (even within the church, where people ought to revere the truth most highly), Solomon’s wise advice has never been more timely: Buy the truth, and do not sell it (Prov. 23:23).

Nothing in all the world is more important or more valuable than the truth. And the church is supposed to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

Not knowing what you believe is by definition a kind of unbelief. Refusing to acknowledge and defend the revealed truth of God is a particularly stubborn and pernicious kind of unbelief. Advocating ambiguity, exalting uncertainty, or otherwise deliberately clouding the truth is a sinful way of nurturing unbelief.

Where are you unclear in your beliefs?

The Truth War, xi–xii

JANUARY 2

The Definition of Truth

Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

JOHN 14:6

So what is truth?

Here is a simple definition drawn from what the Bible teaches: truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.

Truth is also ontological—which is a fancy way of saying it is the way things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it so. Therefore God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth.

The Old Testament refers to the Almighty as the God of truth (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 31:5; Isa. 65:16). When Jesus said of Himself "I am . . . the truth" (John 14:6, emphasis added), He was thereby making a profound claim about His own deity. He was also making it clear that all truth must ultimately be defined in terms of God and His eternal glory. After all, Jesus is the brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person (Heb. 1:3). He is truth incarnate—the perfect expression of God and therefore the absolute embodiment of all that is true.

Jesus also said that the written Word of God is truth. It does not merely contain nuggets of truth; it is pure, unchangeable, and inviolable truth that (according to Jesus) cannot be broken (John 10:35).

God has revealed Himself to humanity through Scripture and through His Son. Both perfectly embody the essence of what truth is.

In what ways do you need to submit to the truth God has revealed in His Word?

The Truth War, 2–3

JANUARY 3

The True Beginning

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

GENESIS 1:1

God did create the heavens and the earth. And there is only one document that credibly claims to be a divinely revealed record of that creation, the book of Genesis. Unless we have a creator who left us with no information about where we came from or what our purpose is, the text of Genesis 1–2 stands for all practical purposes unchallenged as the only divinely revealed description of creation. In other words, if there is a God who created the heavens and the earth, and if He revealed to humanity any record of that creation, Genesis is that record. If the God of Scripture did not create the heavens and the earth, then we have no real answers to anything that is truly important. Everything boils down to those two simple options.

So whether we believe the Genesis record or not makes all the difference in the world.

We can either believe what Genesis says, or not. If Genesis 1:1 is true, then the universe and everything in it was created by a loving and personal God and His purposes are clearly revealed to us in Scripture. Further, if the Genesis account is true, then we bear the stamp of God and are loved by Him—and because we are made in His image, human beings have a dignity, value, and obligation that transcends that of all other creatures. Moreover, if Genesis is true, then we not only have God’s own answers to the questions of what we are here for and how we got where we are, but we also have the promise of salvation from our sin.

How does the fact that God created the world affect the way you view life?

The Battle for the Beginning, 42–43

JANUARY 4

Don’t Give Up the True Beginning

We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

EPHESIANS 4:14

Many who should know better—pastors and Christian leaders who defend the faith against false teachings regularly—have been tempted to give up the battle for the opening chapters of Genesis. An evangelical pastor recently approached me after I preached. He was confused and intimidated by several books he had read—all written by ostensibly evangelical authors—yet all arguing that the earth is billions of years old. These authors treat most of the evolutionists’ theories as indisputable scientific fact. And in some cases they wield scientific or academic credentials that intimidate readers into thinking their views are the result of superior expertise, rather than naturalistic presuppositions they have brought to the biblical text. This pastor asked if I believed it possible that the first three chapters of Genesis might really be just a series of literary devices—a poetic saga giving the spiritual meaning of what actually occurred through billions of years of evolution.

I answered unapologetically, No, I do not. I am convinced that Genesis 1–3 ought to be taken at face value—as the divinely revealed history of creation. Nothing about the Genesis text itself suggests that the biblical creation account is merely symbolic, poetic, allegorical, or mythical. The main thrust of the passage simply cannot be reconciled with the notion that creation occurred via natural evolutionary processes over long periods of time. And I don’t believe a faithful handling of the biblical text, by any acceptable principles of hermeneutics, can possibly reconcile these chapters with the theory of evolution or any of the other allegedly scientific theories about the origin of the universe.

How have you been tempted to give in to the world’s idea of the truth?

The Battle for the Beginning, 18–19

JANUARY 5

Rejecting the Beginning Rejects the Truth

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

GALATIANS 1:10

The starting point for Christianity is not Matthew 1:1, but Genesis 1:1. Tamper with the book of Genesis and you undermine the very foundation of Christianity. You cannot treat Genesis 1 as a fable or a mere poetic saga without severe implications to the rest of Scripture. The creation account is where God starts His account of history. It is impossible to alter the beginning without impacting the rest of the story—not to mention the ending. If Genesis 1 is not accurate, then there’s no way to be certain that the rest of Scripture tells the truth. If the starting point is wrong, then the Bible itself is built on a foundation of falsehood.

In other words, if you reject the creation account in Genesis, you have no basis for believing the Bible at all. If you doubt or explain away the Bible’s account of the six days of creation, where do you put the reins on your skepticism? Do you start with Genesis 3, which explains the origin of sin, and believe everything from chapter 3 on? Or maybe you don’t sign on until sometime after chapter 6, because the Flood is invariably questioned by scientists too. Or perhaps you find the Tower of Babel too hard to reconcile with the linguists’ theories about how language originated and evolved. If we’re worried about appearing unscientific in the eyes of naturalists, we’re going to have to reject a lot more than Genesis 1–3.

What beliefs have you been tempted to give up because of how you would appear to others?

The Battle for the Beginning, 44

JANUARY 6

Scripture, Not Science, Interprets Scripture

And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, let them show these to them.

ISAIAH 44:7

Modern scientific opinion is not a valid hermeneutic for interpreting Genesis (or any other portion of Scripture, for that matter). Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16)—inspired truth from God. Scripture never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Jesus summed the point up perfectly when He said, Thy word is truth (John 17:17 KJV). The Bible is supreme truth, and therefore it is the standard by which scientific theory should be evaluated, not vice versa.

And Scripture always speaks with absolute authority. It is as authoritative when it instructs us as it is when it commands us. It is as true when it tells the future as it is when it records the past. Although it is not a textbook on science, wherever it intersects with scientific data, it speaks with the same authority as when it gives us moral precepts.

It is therefore a serious mistake to imagine that modern scientists can speak more authoritatively than Scripture on the subject of origins. Scripture is God’s own eyewitness account of what happened in the beginning.

A clear pattern for interpreting Genesis is given to us in the New Testament. In every New Testament reference to Genesis, the events recorded by Moses are treated as historical events. And in particular, the first three chapters of Genesis are consistently treated as a literal record of historical events.

When have you felt that your opinion is more reliable than something God has said?

The Battle for the Beginning, 22–23

JANUARY 7

The Truth About Science

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

COLOSSIANS 2:8

Although the biblical account clashes at many points with naturalistic and evolutionary hypotheses, it is not in conflict with a single scientific fact. Indeed, all the geological, astronomical, and scientific data can be easily reconciled with the biblical account. The conflict is not between science and Scripture, but between the biblicist’s confident faith and the naturalist’s willful skepticism.

Science has never disproved one word of Scripture, and it never will. On the other hand, evolutionary theory has always been in conflict with Scripture and always will be. But the notion that the universe evolved through a series of natural processes remains an unproven and untestable hypothesis, and therefore it is not science. There is no proof whatsoever that the universe evolved naturally. Evolution is a mere theory—and a questionable, constantly changing one at that. Ultimately, if accepted at all, the theory of evolution must be taken by sheer faith.

How much better to base our faith on the sure foundation of God’s Word! There is no ground of knowledge equal to or superior to Scripture. Unlike scientific theory, God’s Word is eternally unchanging. Unlike the opinions of man, its truth is revealed by the Creator Himself! It is not, as many suppose, at odds with science. True science has always affirmed the teaching of Scripture. Archaeology, for instance, has demonstrated the truthfulness of the biblical record time and time again. Wherever Scripture’s record of history may be examined and either proved or disproved by archaeological evidence or reliable, independent documentary evidence, the biblical record has always been verified.

Where have you seen people take views that clearly conflict with God’s Word?

The Battle for the Beginning, 28

JANUARY 8

The Invention of Lies

For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

JOHN 3:20

Evolution was introduced as an atheistic alternative to the biblical view of creation. According to evolution, man created God rather than vice versa. And as we have seen, the evolutionists’ ultimate agenda is to eliminate faith in God altogether and thereby do away with moral accountability.

Intuition suggests a series of questions to the human mind when we contemplate our origin: Who is in control of the universe? Is there Someone who is sovereign—a Lawgiver? Is there a universal Judge? Is there a transcendent moral standard to live by? Is there Someone to whom we will be accountable? Will there be a final assessment of how we live our lives? Will there be any final judgment?

Those are the very questions evolution was invented to avoid.

Evolution was devised to explain away the God of the Bible—not because evolutionists really believed a Creator was unnecessary to explain how things began, but because they did not want the God of Scripture as their Judge.

To put it simply, evolution was invented in order to eliminate the God of Genesis and thereby to oust the Lawgiver and obliterate the inviolability of His law. Evolution is simply the latest means our fallen race has devised in order to suppress our innate knowledge and the biblical testimony that there is a God and that we are accountable to Him (cf. Rom. 1:28). By embracing evolution, modern society aims to do away with morality, responsibility, and guilt. Society has embraced evolution with such enthusiasm because people imagine that it eliminates the Judge and leaves them free to do whatever they want without guilt and without consequences.

Which of the questions above challenges you the most?

The Battle for the Beginning, 24–25

JANUARY 9

The Clear Truth of Creationism

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

ROMANS 1:18–19

The Bible says here that there is evidence about God (Rom. 1:19). What is known about God is evident through reason. Reason looks at creation (v. 20) and says, There must be a Creator. Reason looks at the diversity and says, He must have an immense mind. It looks at the design and says, He’s a God of order. It looks at the beauty and says, He’s a God of beauty and harmony. It looks at vast variety and says, He’s a God of incredible power and complexity.

Yes, that’s all true. So true, in fact, that God’s eternal power and divine nature are visible through reason looking at creation. You simply can’t look at the results of creation and doubt there’s a Creator. You’d have to commit intellectual suicide to deny there is a cause for the effect of the universe, that there is a supreme Maker. The end of verse 20—His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse—makes this so clear that people have absolutely no excuse for being evolutionists. None. It is absolute idiocy. Paul used moria, the Greek term for moron, translated fool or foolish. Any rational, thinking person, who sees anything that exists, assumes somebody made it. And the universe certainly demands a Creator.

The problem is that men suppress the truth in unrighteousness. People dishonor the Creator even though the knowledge of God as Creator is obvious around them.

How have you seen God’s attributes in creation?

Hard to Believe, 196–197

JANUARY 10

Truth in Nature

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

PSALM 19:7

Nothing in Scripture suggests that everything we need to know about God is revealed to us in nature. On the contrary, the whole point of Psalm 19 is to underscore the necessity, the absolute sufficiency, and the preeminence of special revelation—Scripture. Nature simply puts God’s glory on display in a mute testimony that declares His majesty, power, divinity, and existence to all—and leaves people without excuse if they ignore or reject the God of the Bible. In other words, natural revelation is sufficient to condemn sinners, but not to save them. Scripture, on the other hand, is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and altogether true (vv. 7–9). Unlike the general revelation available to us in nature, the truth of Scripture converts the soul, makes wise the simple, enlightens the eyes, and endures forever (vv. 7–9). So the psalm plainly underscores the superiority of Scripture. Its whole point is that the revelation of God in nature is not as powerful, as enduring, as reliable, as clear, or as authoritative as Scripture. Scripture is sufficient revelation; nature is not. Scripture is clear and complete; nature is not. Scripture therefore speaks with more authority than nature and should be used to assess scientific opinion, not vice versa.

Unlike nature, Scripture is perspicuous; its meaning is clear